Darning last



March 15, 1938. l. B. PECKHAM DARNING LAST Filed Jan. 25, 1937 122/; B. PEC/fH/IM Patented Mar. 15 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to darning lasts and more particularly to that type which iscommonly used as an aid in the darning of stockings.

One common type of such lasts, as heretofore produced, consists of an egg-shaped form which is usually made of wood and covered with a coating of paint or other similar material. This form of last is objectionable for the reason that while used in darning stockings, the needle point will chip the coating and cause hard broken edges to remain on the surface of the last which can easily catch on the threads of the stocking as the last is slipped in or out of the same and, when the last is used in a thin stocking such as fine silk, the catching of the threads can very easily damage the stocking toa considerable extent. Another form of a last, which has been heretofore used, consists of a glass form. This has also been found objectionable for the reason that the surface is so hard that it will damage the point of the needle.

An object of my invention, therefore, is to provide a last of a flattened oval form which can be used with greater ease in the darning of stockings for the reason that its particular shape will conform more closely with the toe and heel of the stockings than lasts of common form. A further object is to provide a last which is made of a material that will not catch on the threads of the stockings, when the surface of the last is chipped or scratched by the point of a needle, and which material is also of such a nature that it will not damage the point of the needle. I have found that a last having these advantages can be provided by constructing the same of such material as soap or wax, as either of the said materials is sufficiently soft and plastic at normal temperatures so as not to damage the point. of the needle and so that when the surface is chipped, grooved or broken by penetration of the needle, any rough edges or sides of broken sections that may be formed on the surface will not have sufficient rigidity to catch and tear the threads of the stocking.

In addition to these advantages, I have found that by constructing my improved last from a soap which is particularly adapted for washing fine stockings, the said last may be used as a soap as Well as a last, thus offering an advantage for the reason that any scratches which may be formed on the surface thereof will be smoothed off each time that the last is used as a soap. Furthermore, such scratches may be easily smoothed off by simply rubbing the last with the hand. This can also be done when the last is made of wax.

When the said last is constructed of a soap which is particularly adapted for stockings, a further advantage may be gained by including, 5 with the soap material, a suitable amount of an ingredient such as iron-free aluminum sulphate which has been found from extensive tests, and particularly with silk stockings, to resist runs, rain spots and increase elasticity.

It will, therefore, be understood that the object of my invention is to provide a particular form of a last which is especially adapted for use in stockings and which is made of a soap having an ingredient which is highly beneficial to the stocking material when used in the washing of the stockings, and particularly silk stockings, so that the said last will serve a double purpose, namely, that of a last as well as a special soap for stockings.

The particular form of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:-

Figure 1 is a front view in elevation of a last embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a side view in elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

The said last more specifically comprises a substantially oval form 5 which is greater in width than in thickness. I have found that the last will conform more closely with the various parts of a stocking and thereby give greater convenience in darnings when it is formed in the shape clearly illustrated in the drawing.

When my improved last is seen from the front, 3 as in Figure 1, the sides 6-6 thereof are curved at a radius which is shorter than the radius of the front and rear surfaces 1 and 8. The ends 9 and 10 of the last, when seen from a front view, are at a greater radius than when seen from a side view. When seen in cross section, as illustrated in Figure 3, the front and rear surfaces 1 and 8 are curved at a smaller radius than they are When seen in a longitudinal cross-section. This formation providesa last having substantially fiattened front and rear surfaces and which is elongated so as to provide for a wider range of adaptability to the formation of the various portions of a stocking. The peripheral edge of the last is substantially thinner, in comparison with the other portions of the same, thereby providing What may be called, a flattened oval form.

As hereinabove pointed out, the said last is constructed of a soap material which is mixed with a suitable quantity of an ingredient such as powdered iron-fee aluminum sulphate.

In the use of my improved last, the same is inserted, in the ordinary manner, within the stocking and moved with relation to the stocking until the most suitable surface of the last is found to suit the particular part of the stocking which is to be darned. During the darning operation, it is inevitable that the last will become nicked, or chipped, by the needle at a number of points, but, due to the nature of the material from which my improved last is constructed, any such nicks or dents may be easily smoothed by simply rubbing the surface of the last.

When desired, my improved last may be used as a soap with which to wash stockings in the ordinary manner and, each time the stockings are washed therewith, the content of the ironfree almn'inum sulphate will act upon the material oi the stockings in such a manner as to cause it to resist the forming of runs in the stocking. Thus, it will be understood, the stockings will be continuously maintained in a run-resisting condition through the successive Washing thereof with the material of my improved last.

The use of the last in washing also tends to smooth its surface through wear, so that any nicks or dents therein will be smoothed out and thus retain the surface of the last in a practically new condition at all times.

I claim:

A darning last having a curved work engaging surface formed of a material which is characterized by being plastic at normal temperatures.

IDA B. PECKHAM. 

